Trump, the Democrats, and the future of US democracy

In this week’s UpFront special, we speak to Steven Rogers, an adviser on US President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign, and we discuss the latter’s much-criticised rhetoric and campaign strategy.

In a special discussion, we look at what the reconfiguration of the political landscape may mean for the US and the world, and whether the media keeps failing when covering the Trump presidency.

Headliner: 

On UpFront this week, we discuss whether ‘strong-willed’ Trump will be held accountable and challenge a Trump adviser on the president’s rhetoric that many say is inspiring white supremacists.

The US midterm elections could be seen as “a referendum” on the US president and on Tuesday night, the Democratic Party seized control of the House of Representatives and won a few governorships, while the Republican Party increased their majority in the Senate.

Critics say Trump ran a fear-mongering campaign, which included an advert that was pulled from several major US television networks, including Fox News, as it was deemed racist.

“You would be surprised what’s coming across that border,” says Rogers. He defended the caravan being seen as a type of “invasion” and defended Trump’s message as meant to “protect this country”.

In this US midterm elections special, Mehdi Hasan challenges Rogers on the rhetoric and behaviour during the campaign, as well as whether the results may mean that the world will see a changed US president post the House and Governor losses.

Special Discussion:

Is the US on the brink of a constitutional crisis?

We discuss whether American democracy is in crisis and if the media will continue to play Trump’s games.

Following the US midterm elections, the Democratic Party gained a majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years, and added some state governor seats.

Hailing Republicans’ win in the Senate as a “tremendous success”, Trump then proceeded to force out Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had recused himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.

Can the November 6 midterm elections be considered a victory for Democrats? What will Democrats now do to ensure checks and balances are in place? And what next for the US after this reconfiguration of their political landscape?

The Guardian’s political reporter in Washington, DC, Sabrina Siddiqui, says the challenge for Democrats will “be restoring a check and balance through their investigative powers that Congress has”.

Republican strategist Rick Wilson hopes that the Democrats can hold Trump accountable across “a whole spectrum of issues”. Wilson expresses his disappointment that the Republicans have failed to play their role as a co-equal branch of government – “instead they acted as if they worked for Donald Trump”.

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